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Is it really that hard to get an entry level job these days? I graduated community college a few years after the dot com bubble burst, and was able to land a 30

Is it really that hard to get an entry level job these days? I graduated community college a few years after the dot com bubble burst, and was able to land a 30k job easily, it was less pay than my waiter job. Did those really low paying job go away? Or has it become really competitive to even get those?

paulpauper 4y ago
30K... that is not what comes to mind when you think of tech job. more like 100k
- exdsq 4y ago
  This is true for literally as little as 0.1% of the entire worlds tech entry level positions. Probably even less. The world is a little larger than the stops of the Caltrain. FWIW, based on Glassdoor, Salary.com, and a couple other sources they all suggest the average salary of an entry level role in the Bay Area is 90k, so not only is 100k not a reasonable global salary it's not even the expected rate unless you're above average in the Bay.
- dgellow 4y ago
  That’s always so depressing to read from a European point of view.
leesec 4y ago
I think several companies have gotten burned hiring bootcamp grads and are less willing to take risks on it, but I can't imagine all junior roles have gone away.
Bourget 4y ago
YMMV but I recently earned a doctorate in mathematics with a perfect (4.0) GPA in all my degrees and I have only received rejections in the tech world due to 'lack of experience'. In fact I have not been invited to a single interview. This includes jobs for newcomers that indeed pay just 30k --- and it's worth noting just how low that salary is in these days: 25k of that goes to taxes, rent, and paying off debt. I'm turning towards finance instead as the entry barrier seems signifcantly lower.
- mellavora 4y ago
  I'd suggest you post some contact details in your HN signature. Your background is highly attractive, and there are enough people here with the clout to get you started on a more positive interview track. Also perhaps some coaching; you might have some tactical errors in how you approach. With that said, finance may also be a really good option for you. At the right bank, the strong math background + top GPA is the hiring requirement. They also like people with Ph.D.s in technical physics. You should have some coding experience, but you'll be working in their custom setups anyway -- if you're good at math, you can pick up APL (it's a language, look it up) programming quickly. Otherwise, bank python is pretty divergent from python, or you are looking at Matlab/R. They'll want someone who can translate complicated math into a model. You are less likely to find that in most tech companies.
  - Bourget 4y ago
    Thanks for the input, I appreciate it the insight. I agree that I may be making tactical errors. I've confined myself to job adverts through e.g. LinkedIn for the lack of knowing where else to look. I also lack the connections that most others at my stage of career have. I know my way a bit around coding though I'm entirely self-taught so I have no degrees to back up that claim. I have considered throwing my projects on Github as a kind of 'proof of work' to employers. Could you perhaps name some specific directions that would be suitable for someone with my background? People around me mentioned quantitative finance as an example of a direction for math PhDs to go into --- but I'd frankly be open to any job that lets me make use of my skills.
- phillypham 4y ago
  This is surprising to hear. I have a similar background, albeit my GPA was not quite as good and I terminated by mathematics education with a master's. I work with lots of PhDs that have transitioned from other STEM fields. Are you good at math competitions? Competitive programming is basically the same thing. This is how I transitioned in the field. If you can do these, interviews will be a breeze.
  - 4y ago

paulpauper 4y ago

30K... that is not what comes to mind when you think of tech job. more like 100k

exdsq 4y ago
This is true for literally as little as 0.1% of the entire worlds tech entry level positions. Probably even less. The world is a little larger than the stops of the Caltrain. FWIW, based on Glassdoor, Salary.com, and a couple other sources they all suggest the average salary of an entry level role in the Bay Area is 90k, so not only is 100k not a reasonable global salary it's not even the expected rate unless you're above average in the Bay.
dgellow 4y ago
That’s always so depressing to read from a European point of view.

leesec 4y ago

I think several companies have gotten burned hiring bootcamp grads and are less willing to take risks on it, but I can't imagine all junior roles have gone away.

Bourget 4y ago

YMMV but I recently earned a doctorate in mathematics with a perfect (4.0) GPA in all my degrees and I have only received rejections in the tech world due to 'lack of experience'. In fact I have not been invited to a single interview. This includes jobs for newcomers that indeed pay just 30k --- and it's worth noting just how low that salary is in these days: 25k of that goes to taxes, rent, and paying off debt. I'm turning towards finance instead as the entry barrier seems signifcantly lower.

mellavora 4y ago
I'd suggest you post some contact details in your HN signature. Your background is highly attractive, and there are enough people here with the clout to get you started on a more positive interview track. Also perhaps some coaching; you might have some tactical errors in how you approach. With that said, finance may also be a really good option for you. At the right bank, the strong math background + top GPA is the hiring requirement. They also like people with Ph.D.s in technical physics. You should have some coding experience, but you'll be working in their custom setups anyway -- if you're good at math, you can pick up APL (it's a language, look it up) programming quickly. Otherwise, bank python is pretty divergent from python, or you are looking at Matlab/R. They'll want someone who can translate complicated math into a model. You are less likely to find that in most tech companies.
- Bourget 4y ago
  Thanks for the input, I appreciate it the insight. I agree that I may be making tactical errors. I've confined myself to job adverts through e.g. LinkedIn for the lack of knowing where else to look. I also lack the connections that most others at my stage of career have. I know my way a bit around coding though I'm entirely self-taught so I have no degrees to back up that claim. I have considered throwing my projects on Github as a kind of 'proof of work' to employers. Could you perhaps name some specific directions that would be suitable for someone with my background? People around me mentioned quantitative finance as an example of a direction for math PhDs to go into --- but I'd frankly be open to any job that lets me make use of my skills.
phillypham 4y ago
This is surprising to hear. I have a similar background, albeit my GPA was not quite as good and I terminated by mathematics education with a master's. I work with lots of PhDs that have transitioned from other STEM fields. Are you good at math competitions? Competitive programming is basically the same thing. This is how I transitioned in the field. If you can do these, interviews will be a breeze.
- 4y ago